I used to own the building. It is a beauty. It is a shame to see that the jerk who purchased it from us totally screwed up the work and that he never completed the builiding as he described to us. He also stiffed the trades who were waiting for Landmark to finally get its act together.

Landmark kept us waiting for almost 2 years because we wanted to remove the side stairs which were not original to the building. In addition the bums in the neighborhood kept breaking in and stealing anything they could get their hands on.

I hope the new owner does it justice and by the way, can a building be sold with outstanding liens on it? Whoever said flip fraud was right. What a disgrace.

the mullioned windows that folks think are ugly are original to the building. They would make a better statement painted a color close to the brownstone.

Posted by: bklyngirl at October 13, 2007 9:05 PM in response to House of the Day: 109 Gates Avenue

I don't live in NY anymore but have a home in Clinton Hill. I love my neighborhood but every hood has something to recommend it.

Brooklyn Heights is lovely and your hubby is active can walk the bridge to work or be home in 2-3 stops. It has just about everything a neighborhood can offer but the downsides are parking and price. If your hubby in entry level in a training program then he's on the way up $$ wise. You could struggle and stretch your money and when he's making good bank and you are back to work then BH would be great. It has wonderful schools all train lines intersect there, restaurants, the promenade etc.

Park Slope is also a good hood but parking, price and just about the same as BH. You will have benefit of tons of young families and a very active community.
Downside (for me) Crime. There are an element that find the slope to be a ripe grazing territory for petty crime. Alot of muggings break-ins, theft, push-ins etc. But folks find it worth it.

Clinton-Hill/Fort Greene - Emerging. It has been emerging for decades now but just can't quite get over the hump. The housing stock is excellent and you can pick stuff up cheaper than in PS or BH (but not by much). There is not the obvious wealth that is evident in the heights or parts of the slope but I love it because of its diversity, restaurants, and quiet. There is a good family dynamic and a few schools are notable. The downside is the Atlantic Yards Project which will kill the soul of the neighborhood. That coupled with the fact that the there are small pockets of drugs and crime that the city government could care less about really keep it from being a great neighborhood.

Posted by: bklyngirl at May 12, 2008 8:51 PM in response to Returning to brooklyn - advice sought

Start a phone chain. Get as many neighbors to agree to call the cops when one of you notices unsavory activity.

when you do then call the next person on the chain and describe what you are seeing and then get the description down pat. Then the first person should call 911 and report the incident. Then just keep going.

Keep a log (informally) that you take to the precinct meeting and when they try to softshoe around the fact that they have been placing police in the area then let them know the dates and the calls placed and what was the resolution from those calls.

99% of the time the pd will say they arrested or cited the loiterers/dealers/gang bangers. If they say they arrested them then ask (THIS IS IMPORTANT): HOW MANY ARRESTS LED TO CONVICTIONS.

The police know that by saying arrest that calm public nerves. However many criminals, can make bail or just get hassled by the cops and released. Conviction means they were found guilty and placed in jail.

Also, call the Nation of Islam. There used to be a presence on Fulton and they are lovely and very community minded. They have been known to clean a place up just by getting through to the people who are on the other side of the law.

Talk to local churches and bring this to their attention. They too may call the police to get their asses moving.

See if there is a local CDB (community development board) get them involved too.

We care. Good luck.

Posted by: bklyngirl at May 12, 2008 9:06 PM in response to Cambridge Place

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/abo/678315386.html

Check out this 3 bedroom for $2300 in Bay Ridge. Looks decent and the price is right.

Posted by: guest at May 12, 2008 9:29 PM in response to Returning to brooklyn - advice sought

I would definitely look at Bay Ridge.

I don't know how early the expresses run, but he can take a bus and probably be at work in 20 minutes tops, especially so early.

There is a terrific group of parents on Yahoo.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bay_ridge_parents/

There is quite a bit to do with a little one with tons of great parks.

If you stick around schools will surely be an issue and Bay Ridge has some of the best elementary and middle schools.

Posted by: guest at May 12, 2008 10:12 PM in response to Returning to brooklyn - advice sought

I would Move to Carroll Gardens or Cobble Hill. THey are very safe. The F train is 25 min to Midtown.

Posted by: guest at May 12, 2008 11:06 PM in response to Returning to brooklyn - advice sought

Hey OP -
The advice you're getting is all over the place. A 3 BR in Brooklyn Heights could cost you 5K+. The people on this list have no clue regarding how much people on Wall St. make. If you're talking about an entry level broker postiion on Wall St. of 60K+ commission & bonus, the landlord will only count on the 60K. The same rule applies to an entry level associate banker position (aka Vice President) which usually generates just 70 - 100K plus bonus. Again, the landlord will only factor in the bonus. Typically you must make 40 times the amount of monthly rent per year. That means that if your rent is $4000 per month, you must make 160K.

So what's your price range? 2K might get you something in Crown Heights or Prospect Lefferts Gardens. 3K might get you something in Kensington, Ditmas Park, Windsor Terrace, South Slope, or the extended border of Prospect Heights. $4K might get you something in Park Slope and Prospect Heights proper.

For the commute, I'd certainly agree with all of the posters that suggested anything on the 2/3/4/5/A lines. They offer the fastest commute to Wall Street via train. Forget anything by the R and C trains since the wait alone will add 15 - 30 minutes to your husband's commute each day. The F train is also not that fast, since it's local and you have to switch to the A to get to Wall Street (Fulton, then walk for about 7 minutes).

Alternatively, you could move out to Kensington / Ditmas Park (close to the F or Q trains at Church) and for $5 hubby could take the express bus to work (just 15 minutes to Wall Street!). You just need to be close to the intersection of Ocean Parkway and Church Avenue.

Make sure that you visit the neighborhoods that you are considering at night and during the weekends to make sure that you are comfortable in the area.

re: schools - check out www.insideschools.org for some very useful information

(BTW, my partner is a manager at an investment bank and I am a Brooklyn real estate agent).

Posted by: guest at May 13, 2008 8:46 AM in response to Returning to brooklyn - advice sought

You can actually get a 3bdrm for less than 3K in Kensington and you don't have to only be near the intersection of Ocean and Church to take the express bus, If you live on the east side of Kensington(east of Ocean Parkway) and near to Cortelyou, you can pick up the bus at Stratford and Cortelyou. It takes my husband 30 minutes to get to Park and 23rd in rush hour. If your husband has to be at work by 6:30, even the Q train with a switch at Atlantic for a 2,3,4,5 won't take that long.

Posted by: guest at May 13, 2008 10:23 AM in response to Returning to brooklyn - advice sought

Kensington is great for someone on a budget. But if I had additional funds, Park Slope would be my #1 choice.

Posted by: guest at May 13, 2008 10:38 AM in response to Returning to brooklyn - advice sought

Kensington is great for someone on a budget. But if I had additional funds, Park Slope would be my #1 choice.

Posted by: guest at May 13, 2008 10:38 AM in response to Returning to brooklyn - advice sought

someone already posted a link to a nice looking 3 bedroom duplex for 3300 in brooklyn heights -- so don't listen to "real estate agents" who say you can't get anything for less than 5k. look yourself. Halstead, Corcoran, BHS, Elliman (all .com) are just some of the brokers with online listings.

Posted by: guest at May 13, 2008 10:41 AM in response to Returning to brooklyn - advice sought

You definitely need to give us your rent budget.

Also consider that in many of the brownstone neighborhoods, there just isn't that much stock of true 3BR apts, so they are priced high and take longer to find. You will find more 2 BR + den/office set-ups.

Posted by: guest at May 13, 2008 12:35 PM in response to Returning to brooklyn - advice sought

Ocean Parkway, KENSINGTON, safe diverse and affordable..I just love my 1BR on OP with 10' celings for a little over 1k a month.

Posted by: guest at May 13, 2008 4:11 PM in response to Returning to brooklyn - advice sought